Wednesday, February 24, 2010

You know it’s CIAA time when an EpiCentre club like Whisky River – which often hosts concerts by country artists including Luke Bryan and Craig Morgan – rolls out the red carpet for rapper Nelly.

It’s an, um, interesting transformation. I mean, if you think about it, it’d kind of be like the Excelsior (a private black club on Beatties Ford Road) hosting a NASCAR-themed party the night before the Coca-Cola 600.

Now, I’m not trying to pick on Whisky River or the EpiCentre. Plenty of uptown clubs that don’t specifically court black patrons throughout the year change their tune during the CIAA. And it obviously makes good business sense for bars and clubs situated close to the arena to do so.

However … if any bar or club that’s not typically very diverse throws a CIAA party, it should realize the invitation could ring false: Hey, I know this is normally the last place you’d want to hang out, but come on by this week!

(Incidentally, there are fans and revelers out there who not only resent the invitation, but who also have in the past said bars and clubs hold CIAA partiers to a different standard when it comes to security, dress codes, cover charges, etc.)

Why bring this all up? Not because I’m a pot-stirrer. Not because I have a solution for what seems to be a perennial hot-button issue. I bring this all up to remind you that Whisky River and other not-typically-black clubs, they really are trying with the rap shows, and with the other CIAA-themed parties.

If you get there and you feel like they're not trying hard enough, make sure you and your friends take your business somewhere else.

20
comments:

Thanks for reminding the people that if we aren't treated well to go somewhere else. I suppose they're all to stupid to figure that out, huh? Do you get paid to write this stuff? You want to write a real story to stir things up? Why don't you report on the fact that the bar owners want this business, but none of the staff wants to deal with the hassles and weak tips. Oh no, is that racist? Maybe. Is it true? Definitely. Sorry about that. Now you can get on your high horse and talk about how "some people" are racists and bad, and you can feel good about yourself because you'd never think that way. But of course, you won't be serving this crowd yourself so its easy...

As an African-American I can appreciate the comments but this is not a Charlotte specific issue. This happens in every city during large black events. It happened in Raleigh during the CIAA, it happens in New Orleans during Essence Fest, Myrtle Beach during Bike Week, Austin Texas during Relay Week, Daytona during Beach Week, I could go on and on. I actually think its very welcoming that the clubs flip for CIAA week.

Total losers. They left the paid guest parking area of Avenue condominiums last night and instead of paying decided to drive right through and over the gate. Nice destruction of property. Real class act.

I can't recall anyone getting shot in the past 3-4 years of the event. I do recall that the city made millions in revenue and the CIAA ranked with the ACC in that area. A lot of these folk are college educated middle to upper class folk that probably worl along side some of you. As for the 4.00 tip I am sure only black folk would do something like that. Try dropping the stereotypes come to a party this weekend and I bet you'll enjoy it.

Nice info. Perspective thinking! AA male here. Even with CiAA's in town, Charlotte is a lllooonngggg step away from being a city of interest, when it comes to touring. I went to the epicentre when it first opened and was told I couldn't wear my prescription shades in the bowling ally. Bye! I left. No deneiro from me! Left, went to another club. Purchased 2 bottles of rose'. $590 +$100 tip. Charlotte kinda suck, but thanks for the awareness.

Stop the madness. Since Charlotte was granted the CIAA it has generated millions of dollars for Chlt's economy...$38 million in 2009 to be exact. The ACC tournament doesn't gross nearly those amounts. I was born and raised in Charlotte, yes an original...Chlt has come a long way but it has a long way to go! The Chlt City Counsel was smart enough to know that getting the CIAA is a money maker! To the ignorant poster's whom want to deem those who attend the CIAA as "classless". You must be apart of the live after 5 every summer, or Race week or any other day of the week that gives the downtown YUPPIE employees from Wachovia/Wells Fargo or BOFA who will find any "excuse" or day of the week to dress like sluts, act like idiots and get drunk!I thought in the 21st Century we would be past the stereotypical comments associated with African Americans.Oh and if you are wandering my ethnicity? I am a African American...in Full support of the CIAA and it's patrons. I graduated from Appalachaian State University, Gardner Webb University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Hawaii!

Chlt keep accomodating the CIAA! Those of you who don't like your monochromatic activites interrupted..then maybe you should go elsewhere!

I found the metal detectors that were setup at Ruth Chris to be a pretty interesting addition. I do have to ask myself, "Do they do the same thing for Speed Street?". I attempted to take a friend to Enso for sushi Saturday night and were were told it would be a $25 cover since it was after 9pm and that all Epicenter restaurants stopped selling food at 9pm. It's pretty sad that we had to leave uptown just to find food after 9pm.

I am a black male that has lived in charlotte for almost 13 years and the night life in Charlotte really sucks.You want to know why. Most of the black establishments take advantage of it's customers. The drinks are always high priced. Security is poor. Take the Savoy for instance. This "used" to be one of my favorite clubs in charlotte. Now the dress code has really relaxed, drink prices are higher. I just decided that i will wait until i go to Atlanta,nyc or Miami to party. It's just not worth it in Charlotte. The ladies here are soooo stuck on themselves, they act like you just asked them to have a child instead of going on the dance floor. The dudes dress for each other, trying to see who is the flyest and play the wall all night. i have been all around the world and as far as the night life goes, Charlotte ranks poorly for black establishments. People here are so segragated. At least at the so called white clubs you can get a drink special here and there. of course they dont do the same things for speed week, like the metal detectors because most of the people that attend the speed week events don't act the way "WE" act. Until we keep it real with ourselves the things that occur will keep happening. i want metal detectors because i know how we get down. we should stop acting like " plaxico burress" incidents don't happen. i never go into a mostly white establishment and wonder if somebody has a pistol. keep it real black people. if we dont change then things will never change.

To the commenter above. I don't understand your point to contributing to the comment section other than the fact you're mad nobody will dance with you. Black people are a diverse group of people with different views, backgrounds, upbringings, incomes etc, so to say that "we" act a certain way is ridiculous. Since you've been a long time resident of the area you should know that there aren't any shootouts because people want to "keep it real" and to assume that some speed street patrons won't and don't "keep it real" is foolish.

After being out this weekend, I noticed that those white people who did venture out to party had a great time. The CIAA is about basketball and having a good time, nobody is worried about "keepin it real!"

A group of black dudes scares people. Stereotypes play the role, loud talking, etc...it's all intimidation and fear (what scares people). What is the majority of news covering our people? Rappers, athletes, Jesse Jackson, NAACP (suing everyone for some $$$), etc...they are all in trouble for doing the wrong things. The public is constantly reminded about our people doing wrong vs. what our history is about and who we really are. My mom always said, act the way ML King would act and you won't have a problem. For the most part, I don't and haven't had a problem. But I've also been called an Uncle Tom for "selling out." I'm educated, own a home, have a nice car, and a great family...for some reason that's selling out. For MLK, that was his dream for all of us. I resent the fact that I am stereotyped and made to look bad until I prove otherwise. However, I also resent the fact that I have to constantly defend being a successful black male to both whites and blacks alike.

Who cares? I'm a white "dude" and honestly life is too short to give much thought to the black vs white debate. Be yourself, have respect for others, and God will smile upon you. Hopefully, everyone had fun coming to the "big" city for the weekend. We'll see ya next year.